Mark Shale Stores Closing, Northbrook Branch Liquidated
The designer fashion retailer is holding liquidation sales at its three stores.
The local, designer fashion stores, Mark Shale, will be closing its three locations, including one at Northbrook Court, CBS Chicago reports.
“Unfortunately, our efforts to find a strategic partner to help save the business were not successful. We are saddened to say that we now have to close our doors after 83 years,” Mark Shale President Rich Myers said in a statement published by CBS. “We encourage our customers to take advantage of the extraordinary savings on all of our merchandise as we will be receiving shipments throughout the fall.”
The stores will feature 20 to 50 percent markdowns on clothing by brands such as Hugo Boss, Hickey Freeman and Joseph Abboud until all the merchandise is sold, Crain's Chicago Business reports.
The stores will still honor gift cards and merchandise credits and all sales made until the close will be final, though returns on purchases made before Aug. 30 will be accepted for 30 days from the date of purchase, according to Crain's.
The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the third time in August, Crain's reported this summer.
The company used to sell clothing to former Bulls coach Phil Jackson, but lately struggled to compete with discount retailers and adapt to modern fashion trends, according to Crain's.
forest barbieri
8:46 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Have not been in or shopped at their stores since.......hmmm.......hmmm......1990?
Against Guns
7:12 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
I used to work for Brooks Brothers in Northbrook Court (1989-1995) and it is interesting to think of all the men's clothing stores that were there and have closed up:
Bigby and Kruthers: pumped a boat load of money to create a coffee bar upstairs and later took over the store below and made it into their lady's store
Brooks Brothers: the new remodeled the store and put in dark wood panelling but I guess people liked the old store/staff and stopped shopping there. Also Old Orchard was 7 miles away and I guess they liked that mall better.
Mark Shale (they were BB's biggest competitor in the mall) - after B&K closed up Mark Shale changed their image
Morry's (I believe - closed and replaced by J Crew)
The only men's stores now are:
Macy's
Lord & Taylor
Niedman Marcus (but they have a very small dept)
I guess a lot of stores didn't think companies would switch to business casual.
Mosaic53
8:16 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
And how long has Phil Jackson been gone????
Ed Brill
9:09 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
I think it's worth a drive-by this afternoon. The simple answer is that they were just too expensive, even for this market area. I went in a year ago to look for a sportcoat and it was $600. I suppose, to "Beau Bo"'s point, if I was going to wear it ten times a year, that simply wasn't cost effective. The style would change before it would wear out.
Scott McKeen
9:19 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
It's pretty hard to justify spending $80 for a dress shirt made overseas that can be bought at a discount retailer for $20.
Justy Scojustinizm
12:30 pm on Saturday, May 11, 2013
Six packs only, Twelve packs aren't fresh enough.
Running Errands
2:57 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
As a former Mark Shale employee I find this news very saddening. They not only treated their customers extremely well but their employees as well; I was always excited to go into work. It's truly such a shame that they couldn't save the business. I am surprised that in these times of discount retailers Mark Shale did not change their inventory/pricing, sale frequency, or add customer loyalty programs like similar clothiers have done.
Cole Pierce
9:24 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
I will miss Mark Shale. I started shopping at Shale in high school. All the suits, sweaters, shorts, socks, and winter coats I bought were always top quality. Paying a few extra dollars was always worth it. The service was top notch.